Collected and spent
In fiscal year 2024, Seattle collected $1,810.5M in taxes and spent $2,390.6M.
Where the money comes from
One tax.
Details
City of Seattle 2024 Property Tax Rate per King County Ratebook — 2.37159 mills (Regular 1.09919 + Reg Lid Lift 0.34490 + Excess Lid Lift 0.87332 + G.O. Bond 0.05418)Where it goes
Seven service lines.
Bars in both tables share one scale. Hatched lines pay for past obligations, not current services.
Details
City of Seattle 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited B-4: Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances, Governmental Funds, General Fund column (printed page 34). Prepared by the Office of City Finance; audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024Who decides
Seattle has a Mayor and a City Council. State law sets the budget calendar. The Mayor must send a budget plan to the Council by October 3. The Council then holds budget meetings through October and November. Two of those are evening hearings, open to everyone. The Council must pass the final budget by December 2. 9 Council seats: 7 by district, 2 at-large, four-year terms.
When decisions happen
State law sets Seattle's budget calendar. The Mayor must send a proposed budget to the Council by October 3, 90 days before the new budget year starts. The Council then reviews it through October and November. The Council must adopt the final budget by December 2, 30 days before the year begins. We figured out the January 1 start date from those two deadlines. The city's own page does not state that date directly.
How to reach it
Also on this tax bill
A Seattle address pays these governments too.
On every bill in Seattle
Sources
Details
City of Seattle 2024 Property Tax Rate per King County Ratebook — 2.37159 mills (Regular 1.09919 + Reg Lid Lift 0.34490 + Excess Lid Lift 0.87332 + G.O. Bond 0.05418)Details
City of Seattle 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited B-4: Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances, Governmental Funds, General Fund column (printed page 34). Prepared by the Office of City Finance; audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024Details
City of Seattle 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — audited B-4: Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances, Governmental Funds, General Fund column (printed page 34). Prepared by the Office of City Finance; audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024Details
City of Seattle 2024 Property Tax Rate per King County Ratebook — 2.37159 mills (Regular 1.09919 + Reg Lid Lift 0.34490 + Excess Lid Lift 0.87332 + G.O. Bond 0.05418)To act on what you have read
Who Taxes Me describes. These three tools, made by the same team, are where you can do something about it. Each opens in a new tab.